THE ARTISTIC TYPE: A BLOG OF THEATER, ARTS AND CULTURE

Dave Russell, a veteran guiding force behind the SAK Comedy Lab, is stepping down from his dual posts as managing director and artistic director of the improv comedy troupe.

Russell announced his departure publicly Thursday on Facebook. On a personal blog, he offered insight into his decision to step down.

"Over time, philosophical differences have grown and become more pronounced and it has (had) become apparent to me that I'm like the dad and the core of creative energy is like the kids," Russell wrote on his blog, referring to the creative energy of the performers. "The kids had their own ideas about how things should go and many times those did not mesh with how dad was doing things, especially on the business side."

Russell wrote there will be a gradual transition as he turns over the business and artistic reins to "a group of the most trusted and admired improvisers at SAK."

Although Russell wrote creative differences had been brewing for months, he emphasized that the group never lost sight of its focus on entertaining audiences at its downtown theater in the CityArts Factory on Orange Avenue.

"Despite differences of vision, style and opinion, the SAK family has hung in there to get the job done and continue to entertain the audiences — which is one of the things everybody agrees on — we love our audiences," Russell wrote.